How to Sing Opera

Opera... Sounds interesting, but it's tough at the same time. Being able to sing opera needs a lot of patience and practice. Read ahead to know the details.

But nevertheless, it's music ultimately that matters in opera, and opera is a piece of music reaching out as a vision in sound reaching out to the world.-John Eaton

That the high-pitched voice of opera singers can break glasses, is an old saying to actually express the sharpness in the voice quality of the singers. Opera is actually a dramatic art form that involves on-stage performers for portraying the combination of a musical score and textual drama. It incorporates elements like singers, actors, scenery, costumes, dance, music, and various other visual features. Along with a musical ensemble and orchestra, the singing is usually performed in an opera house. You require an immense amount of patience to emulate the exact singing genre of opera singers.

Singing opera cannot be taught or learned overnight. If you are genuinely passionate about it, then the following guidelines will help you out. You can also try to watch the performances of famous operas and then make an attempt in the similar way.

Step #1

You will have to learn a few foreign languages before you start. For example, Italian opera is a famous style. You need to learn reading music. Understanding the symbols of musical notes is an important criterion for memorizing the verses. You may also watch DVDs to understand the opera's score and then try to adopt a similar style. The best option is to learn under the guidance of a music teacher who knows the style perfectly. This will help you learn the technical aspects perfectly.

Step #2

Opera is sung from the end of the vocal cord and hypothetically, the voice comes out from the lungs. To be able to do this, you require breathing exercises. You need to breathe with your diaphragm, and not your chest. People who commit the mistake of breathing with their chest can never sing opera. So how to sing from your diaphragm? You need to ensure that the muscles present at the base of your lungs are expanding. Stand upright, place your hands on your abdomen, and breathe. Your stomach must rise while inhaling, and not your chest.

Step #3

Now, you need to figure out the range and quality of your voice. If you are one of the male opera singers, who has a deep voice, then you are a bass. Women having a lower tone of voice are called altos. Men having high-pitched voice are known as tenors while female opera singers having a voice with a sharp pitch are called sopranos. Voice that ranges in the middle tones are known as baritones. You need to know how clear your voice is and also the range where it lies. This will help you decide your area of specialization.

Step #4

Perfection cannot be achieved in a single day. So make a slow move and listen to the famous opera songs as much as possible. Practice the basic notes until you gain perfection. You can join any chorus community and grab the ideal style of singing. There are many organizations and societies that give opportunity to amateur singers for exhibiting their skills. Work more on the higher notes to acquire clarity in your voice. To sing opera properly, your voice should come straight from your lungs and not from the tip of your throat.

Start practicing religiously, with devotion and diligence. Opera is a pure form of music that comes out from the singers, devoid of any types of electronic manipulation.